P
Ꭹ
1
The Under-Secretary of State -
Colonial Office- Downing Street
S.W-1.
Ref 9451/11B/3/46
4th December 1946
sir,
I am directed by Mr.Secretary
Creech Jones to refer to semi-official corres- pondence which has passed between Lieutenant Colonel Cole of this Office and Sir Ernest Burden on the subject of the Rosary Hill Home in Hongkong.
As you are aware, the building was
leased from the Dominican Fathers by the local delegate of the International Red Cross Committee for the purpose of housing non-interned dependents of prisoners of war and internees during the period the Japanese occupation of the Colony. When Rosary Hill was taken by the British Military Authorities on the 22nd October 1945, it was found to have fallen into disrepair. The Governor of Hongkong in a commu- nication dated 22nd October, (a copy of which is enclosed) states that the I.R.C.C. delegate Mr. Zindel suggested to the Geneva Committee that contingent liabilities under the terms of the lease for repairs and replacements should be assumed by the British Red Cross.
Mr. Creech Jones would be glad to know in due course whether the British Red Cross are pre- pared to accept liability for these repairs.
The Secretary
I am, Sir, your obedient servant
(s.) A.M. DALTON.
British Red Cross Society.
Page 90Page 91